Go back to the Ming Dynasty to be a thousand households

Chapter 90

At the north gate of Wuzhai Fort, Huang Laifu led He Fuqianhu and others, as well as representatives of Wuzhai Fort merchants such as Qu Yuanrui and others, welcomed Zhang Wenbao and his party at the gate of the fort.

When he was about to enter the fort, Zhang Wenbao asked his family members to enter the fort quickly to inform Huang Laifu and others from thousands of households in Wuzhai Fort.After Huang Laifu got the news, although he felt it was sudden, he quickly notified Vice He Qianhu, Jiang Yongsheng Jiang Baihu, Yang Anzhang Yang Baihu, Li An, Li Cheng, Han Bing and other hundreds of households to come out to greet them.Although these old officers don't care about things now, it's still good to use them as a front.

At the gate of the fort, Huang Laifu, He Fuqianhu and others discussed a few words, guessing the intention of the head of the Shanxi household department to come to Wuzhai Fort. It seems that the bumper harvest of Wuzhai Fort has attracted the attention of the superiors. This time, Zhang Wenbao, the grain manager of the household department, came here. I'm afraid he came to inspect the situation in Wuzhai Fort and also to fight the autumn wind. I don't know how much grain and rice it will cost me this time.

Of course, Huang Laifu didn't know at this time that his Wuzhai Fort's bumper harvest had caused fierce reactions in the court.

And this person in charge of grain has always been in charge of the distribution of food salaries and collection of grain for the soldiers in Shanxi Town. This official said it was not big or small.Although his rank is the same as his own, but he works in the household department and is also a civil servant, so he can naturally speak to himself.Although the current Huang Laifu is different from other military forts, he can be self-sufficient in food and salaries, so he doesn't have to worry about being deducted from his superiors. Yes, just deal with it carefully.

Not long after waiting at the gate of the fort, Huang Laifu waited for Zhang Wenbao and others. He saw that these people were covered in dust and dust. With the current road conditions of the Ming Dynasty, it is impossible not to eat dust. The idiom of washing dust.At this time, although the officials of the Ming Dynasty had the habit of taking the bridge, but looking at Zhang Wenbao and others this time, the family members all had a few small officials, but they did not take the bridge or ride in a carriage. Instead, everyone rode a horse.

At this moment Zhang Wenbao came before the crowd and got off his horse. Huang Laifu and others hurried up to meet him.

"Master Zhang came from a long way, you have worked hard all the way!" Huang Laifu stepped forward and saluted with a smile.

He observed Zhang Wenbao, the head of grain management in Shanxi Town, and he only saw that he was in his 40s. He was tall and thin, with three hairs and long beards. , there is a carved pattern on it, and there is a sense of rigidity in demeanor.

"As an official of the imperial court, what is the responsibility of a certain person, why do you have to work hard?"

Zhang Wenbao returned the salute briefly, although he was of the same rank as Huang Laifu, but his sense of superiority as a civil servant made him just return the salute briefly.He carefully looked at this Wuzhaibao Qianhu adult who shocked him on the way earlier, Huang Laifu first gave him the feeling that he was young, and he was afraid that he would not be twenty.

The second feeling is Huang Laifu's demeanor. Although he looks like a young and rough military man, his demeanor is very decent, neither humble nor overbearing. This is rare among generals, and Zhang Wenbao secretly marveled.

Huang Laifu introduced He Fuqianhu and others to him. Compared with Huang Laifu, He Fuqianhu and others were much more nervous in Zhang Wenbao, but when facing these people, Zhang Wenbao put on airs even more, and everyone saluted him , he just nodded slightly.

After exchanging a few words of greetings, they headed for the fort. Along the way, the group attracted countless crowds of spectators. It seemed that because it was rare to see civil servants coming down from the fort, everyone in Wuzhai Fort took He looked at Zhang Wenbao and others with a somewhat strange and slightly fearful expression.Seeing Huang Laifu coming, the military households and merchants by the street saluted Huang Laifu one after another, and kept saying hello. All of this made Zhang Wenbao thoughtful.

Entering Wuzhai Fort, everything inside left a deep impression on Zhang Wen. Wuzhai Fort is not big, but it is very prosperous, with a sense of chaos and vitality. , It was so crowded that every time there were carriages and horses moving, the coachman would yell loudly.In later generations, it would be a typical mess, but in Wuzhai Fort at this time, it is a manifestation of prosperity.

In Zhang Wenbao's eyes, Wuzhai Fort is full of shops and merchants with accents from all over the world, and the people walking around in the fort are all energetic military households, who are as skinny as other military households in other forts. Compared with the look of numbness and despair towards life, the military households in Wuzhaibao are obviously full of hope for life, giving people a feeling of vitality.

After entering Dadong Street, you can see grain shops and rice shops all over the street, cloth shops, tea shops, oil and sugar shops, etc., and see the coming and going of various rice merchants transporting grain. People are even more surprised. It seems that the big harvest is absolutely true. I really don’t understand. It is said that Wuzhaibao was originally a poor place, and it is a place where birds don’t shit. It is common in all places. Why did Wuzhai Fort change so much when the grain harvest failed?

To be honest, in terms of architecture, Wuzhai Fort is of course not comparable to Taiyuan, Daizhou, Ningwuguan and other big cities in terms of architecture and prosperity. Although Wuzhai Fort is small, but this kind of anger is unforgettable at first sight.

Soon everyone entered the official office of Wuzhai Fort, and everyone entered the meeting hall, where the guests and hosts sat down and offered tea.

After Zhang Wenbao sat down, Fuxu sighed and said: "I never expected that Mr. Huang managed Wuzhai Fort so vigorously. After hearing about Wuzhai Fort earlier, I still didn't believe it. , I can't help but admire."

Huang Laifu leaned forward and said: "Master Zhang is too much for the award, I'm just doing my duty. Everything Wuzhaibao is doing now is due to the great blessing of the Holy Spirit and the cooperation of colleagues to achieve what it is now."

Zhang Wenbao nodded in approval and said, "Although Mr. Huang is young, he is neither arrogant nor impetuous. His hard work is really a role model among young generals."

Huang Laifu smiled and said, "Your Excellency is too famous, Huang really dare not take it."

Zhang Wenbao said: "Master Huang, why should you be modest? I came all the way from Daizhou. Wherever I passed by, there were many disasters and famines, and the people wandered about. When I passed by the military forts, it was devastated and deserted. Only Wuzhai The fort is full of food and rice, and the military households in the fort are full of vitality, all thanks to Mr. Huang."

What he said made Huang Laifu even more happy.Zhang Wenbao paused, and said: "Master Huang, I have something to ask for advice. I came all the way and saw that there seemed to be various irrigation wells and waterwheels in the various farmlands of Wuzhai Fort. Could it be that Wuzhai Fort's harvest is so bumper this time? Is it because of this?"

Huang Laifu said: "Your Excellency's eyesight is as bright as a torch. Wuzhaibao's sufficient food and clothing this time basically depends on these various large water tankers."

Zhang Wenbao stroked his hands and exclaimed: "This feeling is good, this feeling is good, I should take the lead to report this matter to the Ministry of Households. Presumably, after these waterwheels and other things are promoted in various parts of our Ming Dynasty, they will be as good as Wuzhai Fortress." , In the year of the catastrophe, there are also good harvests. And when the waterwheel and other things are promoted, Master Huang will make a contribution to my Ming Dynasty."

Huang Laifu said: "What Mr. Zhang said is very true. It is our blessing to be able to share the worries of the sage. As for a little bit of merit, Laifu dare not be ashamed to accept it."

In his heart, he didn't take what Zhang Wenbao said seriously, but he didn't want to dampen his enthusiasm.

In an agricultural society, it is very difficult to promote some expensive technological products, mainly due to the problem of funds. These water trucks cost a lot of money, and ordinary farmers cannot afford them. Otherwise, The current Huanglaifu large waterwheel, known as the Lanzhou large waterwheel by the Yellow River, appeared as early as the Jiajing period. If it was easy to promote, it must have been popularized to various places, and it would not wait for Huanglaifu to show off.

Take the folk forts outside Wuzhaibao as an example. They were the first to get in touch with Huang Laifu's various irrigation tools, but now, except for some wealthy families, they can use some Huang Laifu water trucks, Huang Laifu irrigation wells, etc. , Most people still can't afford these well filling tools.

In fact, the reason why Wuzhaibao has a bumper harvest this year is not only the irrigation tools, but also Huang Laifu's big farm plan, using the power of a large organization, a reasonable system, mobilizing the enthusiasm of military households, and a powerful hydraulic system. The final result of Wuzhai Fort was achieved after a series of operations, including expensive farming tools.

Wuzhaibao is a special case. It has a vast land and few people, and it is possible to set up a large farm, but it is absolutely impossible to put it in other places, especially in the inland counties.Talking about the farm system with Zhang Wenbao right now, I'm afraid he won't understand it, so I don't talk about it.Of course, instead of running large farms, it would be good if these water trucks can be extended to some places, at least it can alleviate the famine in some places, let the people have more or less normal harvests, and delay the social conflicts in Ming Dynasty as much as possible.

After discussing the big water truck and filling the well for a while, Vice He Qianhu looked at the sky, and smiled beside him: "Master Zhang has worked hard all the way, why not go take a bath and change clothes first, and Master Qianhu and I will prepare some thin wine , thinking that my lord will take the wind and wash away the dust." Jiang Yongsheng, Jiang Baihu, Yang Anzhang, Yang Baihu and others also laughed and responded.

Zhang Wenbao said: "No rush, I still have some business to do."

He glanced at Huang Laifu, and said: "By the way, Master Huang, I heard that Wuzhaibao has collected more than [-] stones of rice for this bumper harvest, so there is such a thing."

Huang Laifu said: "This is all the work of the soldiers of Wuzhai Fort. A little food and rice are not worth mentioning." He knew that his various farms had a bumper harvest, and he couldn't hide it from others, so he responded with a smile, thinking what kind of food manager finally It's down to business.I don't know how much blood this old man will make his Wuzhai Fort come to fight the autumn wind this time.

Zhang Wenbao said: "Master Huang is too modest. He has collected 40 shi of grain, which is definitely not a small amount of rice. Looking at the entire border town, only Master Huang has made such a great contribution. I will lead the performance and ask the Ministry of Households to commend you. ... However, I came all the way earlier, and saw merchants gathering in the fort, and carts and horses transporting grain everywhere. It seems that Mr. Huang sold the grain and rice in the fort. My lord sold it privately, this method is inappropriate."

(End of this chapter)